I, too, am America

There's something about that little word “too” in the title that tugs at my heart. I'm here, too, the poem says. Don't forget about me.

It's a beautiful little poem, the way all the poems of Langston Hughes are. It's completely touching and completely poignant.

The illustrator, Bryan Collier, uses the poem to share the story of the railroad porters, most of whom were African-Americans, in their quiet and humble way, made things better for others.